The Rugby Round-Up

Loughrea Edge Ballinasloe in Thrilling U18.5 Division 2 Final

Loughrea and Ballinasloe faced off at Buccaneers RFC on Saturday in the U18.5 Division 2 final, delivering an intense and tightly contested showdown. The two East Galway sides brought their best to the decider, but it was Loughrea’s precision and tenacity that secured a hard-fought 10-5 victory.

The opening exchanges saw Loughrea on the front foot, applying relentless pressure on Ballinasloe. A driving maul from a lineout nearly opened the scoring, but Ballinasloe’s defense held firm to deny the try. However, the early momentum belonged firmly to Loughrea, whose inventive play had Ballinasloe pinned in their own third.

Twice Loughrea crossed the whitewash only to be denied points—one attempt held up and another ruled out. Vice-captain Jack Colohan almost broke through after a sharp line break, but Ballinasloe scrambled well to keep the deficit at bay. Scrumhalf Jamie Connors was a constant thorn in Ballinasloe’s side, disrupting play and earning his side a crucial penalty just inside the 10-meter line. Flyhalf Jack Quinn coolly converted, giving Loughrea a deserved 3-0 lead heading into halftime.

Half-time: Loughrea 3 – Ballinasloe 0

The second half began in similar fashion, with Loughrea dictating territory. Quinn’s tactical kicking pinned Ballinasloe deep, and a 5-meter scrum soon led to an attacking penalty. Openside flanker Dan Doheny reacted quickest, powering over for a try that Quinn converted, extending the lead to 10-0.

Ballinasloe, however, were not done. A clever blindside move from a scrum saw them cross for their only try of the match, but the difficult conversion was missed, leaving the score at 10-5.

Loughrea’s slick backline play nearly resulted in another try, but Ballinasloe fought back with their best spell of the game. They launched a strong attack down the left flank, coming agonizingly close to scoring before a combination of errors and determined Loughrea defense thwarted their efforts.

With the clock ticking, Loughrea worked their way upfield, earning a penalty from 30 meters out. The attempt drifted wide, but Loughrea’s defense and discipline ensured Ballinasloe couldn’t capitalize on the reprieve. Forced errors and turnovers ultimately undid Ballinasloe, while Loughrea’s pressure and organization saw them emerge as deserved winners.

Full-time: Loughrea 10 – Ballinasloe 5

The match was a showcase of grit and determination from both sides, but Loughrea’s ability to maintain composure under pressure proved decisive. It was a fitting conclusion to a fiercely competitive season.

Scorers:
Loughrea:

Tries: Dan Doheny
Conversions: Jack Quinn
Penalties: Jack Quinn

Ballinasloe:

Tries: (1)

Loughrea now celebrate their Division 2 triumph, a testament to their teamwork and resilience in a memorable final.

Loughrea Dominate Galway Bay in Thrilling Encounter

Loughrea made the trip to Galway Bay on Saturday and returned home with a commanding 41-24 victory in a highly entertaining contest. The visitors laid down an early marker with a well-structured first half, combining solid defense with powerful forward carries and clever tactical play.

Luke Dunne’s pinpoint cross-field kicks and some dazzling attacking moves were highlights of a polished Loughrea performance. The first-half scoring spree saw Mikey Reidy cross the whitewash twice, with one converted by Dunne. Antoni Jakuboszczak and Cormac Burke also added their names to the scoresheet, while Shay Gallagher rounded off the half with another try. Despite some missed conversions, Loughrea entered the break firmly in control.

Half-time: Loughrea 27 – Galway Bay 5

Galway Bay mounted a spirited second-half fightback, with tries from their number 15 and number 10 adding some respectability to the scoreboard. But Loughrea’s Antoni Jakuboszczak stole the show, adding two more tries to his tally and converting both, ensuring there was no doubt about the result.

Galway Bay had their moments, showing resilience and flair in patches, but Loughrea’s dominance in key areas ultimately proved decisive.

Full-time: Loughrea 41 – Galway Bay 24

It was an exhilarating game filled with moments of individual brilliance and collective teamwork. Both sides showcased the best of grassroots rugby, leaving the spectators thoroughly entertained.

Scorers:
Loughrea: